Tape serving machine



June 12, 1934. 'r. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1930' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHTHF INVENTOR 77/5000/75/2 1/97/56??? June 12, 1934. T. H. KRUEGER 1,962,720

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ea 79 37 7.9 E: c122- INVENTOR June 12, 1934. T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 12, 1934. T. H. KRUEGER 1,962,720

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1950 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 t *0 @QQ Ii; 'i

June 12, 1934. T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llv VENTOR 7 #5000195 6. /f 5625/? Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE SERVING MACHINE Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford, Conn. Application November 14, 1930, Serial No. 495,595

5 Claims. (01. 91-38) This invention relates to improvements in tape moistening and dispensing machines and particularly relates to improvements in manually operated machines of this type adapted to dispense long lengths of heavy tape.

Machines of this nature are often used in large numbers in wholesale packing establishments, mail order houses, department store shipping rooms, etc.,- and where heavy rolls of relatively wide shipping room tape are used; such machines have not heretofore proven satisfactory because of the heavy work involved in dispensing the long lengths of heavy tape which has previously necessitated long operating strokes and a heavy pull to feed the lengths of shipping room tape from the machine. "The longer stroke and the increase in pull of the prior machines necessitated a high expenditure of manual labor or effort to operate them and it has heretofore been impossible to get shipping room employees to use tape serving machines capable of dispensing long lengths of wide, heavy tape because of the greater ease with which a package could be tied with twine. Power driven machines have also been unsatisfactory in this field due to the increase in cost and greater care necessary in operating them.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a manually operated tape serving machine which will quickly feed a long length of heavy gummed tape without material increase in effort on the part of the operator over that now used in operating lighter machines and without increasing the length of the operating stroke or the pull now used by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to improve the moistening unit of such a machine to enable it to successfully moisten rapidly moving lengths of wide heavily gummed shipping tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cutting device for wide heavy tape which may be operated with little expenditure of effort by the operator. J

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved visual measuring device for a machine of the type described whereby measured long lengths of tape may be fed out' on a single operating stroke.

A more specific object of this invention is to' provide a manual tape dispensing and moistening machine in which energy is stored in a driving spring on the up stroke to assist in overcoming the inertia on the feeding stroke due to the heavy roll of wide gummed tape whereby the operator's motions and the energy expenditure of gummed tape which are dispensed from the machine at high speed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved manually operated tape moistening and feeding device which will effectively feed, moisten, and sever long strips of heavy gummed tape at a speed several times normal speed of hand operated tape serving machines and without appreciable increase in efiort on the part of the operator.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the attached drawings which constitute an illustrative form of embodiment of the invention and in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away to show the internal construction of my improved tape serving machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1, also with parts broken away to show the internal construction.

Figure 3 is a front end view with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a vertical section substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the moistening element on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical, section substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a vertical part section on the line '77 of Figure 3.

Figure Bis a vertical section line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail of the tape roll adjusting plates, and,

Figure 10 is a detail of the feeding rolls.

The tape serving and dispensing machine shown in these drawings comprises supporting standards or side plates 10 and 10a between which a roll of gummed tape 12 is mounted and frictionally supported on the bottom by the tape roll supporting plate 14 to prevent the tape roll from over-running when the tape is rapidly drawn forward. The tape strip 12a passes over suitable guide rollers 13 and 13a through chutes 12c and over a friction roll 15 whichis in contact with substantially on the the feed roller 16 in such a manner that when the feed roller 16 is rotated the tape strip 12a will be drawn between the mile 15 and 16. The tape his then passes through a channel 17 formed by the movable top plate 68 and bottom plate. 63? past a cutter andthe moistener 60- at the end. of the machine.

Adjacent the sides of the tape roll 12 and adapted to center the roll on the supporting plate 14are a pair of vertical plates 80 adjustably mounted on the cross shaft 81. As shown in detail in Figure 9 the shaft 81 is provided with a plurality of grooves 82 at spaced intervals along the length of the shaft, each'of said depression adapted to receive the adjustable screw 83vwhich is fixed to the adjustable plate 80. As illustrated the plate 80 is moved to the extreme outer groove 82 and therefore adjusted for the widest tape. If a narrower roll of tape were used it is possible to loosen the screw 83 and move the adjustable plates 80 toward each otheralong the shaft 31 as desired. Similarly a cross shaft-12d as shown in Figure 2, is provided with spaced tape guides 12c. which are adjustably held in fixed position by the screws 12a. The tape guides 1-20 are merely U shaped guides centrally open, and may be moved to different positions on the shaft 12d to accommodate different widths of tape. With the guide plates 80 and the tape guides 12c together with the barrel shaped rollers 13a the tape is kept in the center'of the machine and the narrow feed roller 16 which grips the tape at the center only as described in. my'Patent No. 1,782,123,"

. dated November '18, 1930,,automatically centers the tape as it passes through the machine to thereby prevent buckling, tearing, or binding of the tape in the machine.

A feed lever 18,-having an operating handle 18a is integral with the feed wheel 19 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 10 by the shaft 20 to which the wheel is non-rotatably secured. As shown in Figure2 the shaft 20 extends across the machine and on the side opposite the lever 18 a ratchet wheel 21 is fixedly secured to the shaft 20. The ratchet wheel 21 is best shown in Figure 15. and 16 without providing for adjustment of i '1 and concentric with this wheel 21 but freely rotatable on the-shaft 20 is a pawl carrying gear wheel 22. ,A plurality of pawls 23 are pivoted on the'gear 22, and suitable springs 24 hold the pawls in contact with the ratchet gear 21. The pawl carrying gear wheel 22 is provided with circumferential gearing which cooperates with the spur gear 25 which is fixedly secured to the shaft 26 towhich the feed roller '16 is also fixed. As the pawls 23 permit unidirectional movement only it will thus be obvious that when the handle 18a is grasped by the operator and the crank 18 raised upward, the pawls 23 will'slip on the ratchet wheelv 21, but as the handle 18a and crank 18 are forced downwardly or in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1,v the tape feed roller 16 will be positively driven to draw or pull tape 12a from the roll 12 over the rollers 13 and 13a and push it from the machine through the chute 1'! and moistener 60.

The tape feed rollers 15 and 16 are each provided with rubber rims 15a and 16a respectively and as particularly shown in Figure 10 the wheels 15 and 16 are set so close to each other that the tape 12a will be gripped by the rubber rims. with such construction it is possible to permanently mount the bearings of theshafts of the wheels these shafts and rely upon the resilience of the rubber to cause gripping of the tape.

The machine illustrated is particularly provided to dispense long strips of heavy shipping tape which is normally two to three times the width ofthe tape used in the usual retail counter tape serving machines, and is twice as thick, and

- comes in large diameter rolls which are heavier.

The lengths of tape are frequently five to ten times as long as the normal lengths of tape dispensed in the small machines, and the inertia of getting theheavy tape in a large roll in motion is much greater than with the lighter machines and tape.

In order therefore to reduce the effort on the part of the operator and to reduce the extent of necessary body and arm movement a spring 30 is wound on the shaft 20, being fixed on one end to the shaft and fixedly secured on the other end to the frame 10a by. the lug 31. The spring 30 n'ormally exerts no relative effect on the shaft 20 and even with the heavier roll of tape 12 in the machine it is possible to dispense half the limiting length of tape without bringing into operation the driving force of the spring 30. If a full length of tape such as one of fifty-five inches is dispensed, however, the handle 18a must be moved counter-clockwise the full limit of its stroke, which is slightly over 180 and the spring 30 accumulates a certain tension which at the half stroke point is just about balanced by the weight and when the crank is rotated backward to the full length mark, the tension is greater than the inertia ofthe tape roll and the feeding parts so that the spring assists in moving the forward portion of the longer lengths of tape from the machine. The spring 30 can be calibrated as desired and the spring may begin to store energy on longer or shorter lengths of tape as desired. Such stored energy then counteracts the increased inertia of the tape and the feeding pressure on the crank handle 18a. for feeding long lengths of heavy tape may be materially reduced: also, the spring tension being greatest at the start, equalizes the feeding pressure throughout the stroke.

I In operation the operator raises the handle 18:: turning the wheel 19 in acounter-clockwise direction.- During the first part of the stroke there 1 is practical y no counter effect from the spring wound and the operator is moving the handle against the tension of the spring thus accumulating certain energy within the spring. The maximum accumulation is atthe end of the stroke. As the operator dispenses the tape, he will then draw the handle forward and during the first half of the stroke with the maximum tape strip length being dispensed, the accumulated energy of the spring 30 cooperates to overcome the inertia of the machine and the tape roll, reducing the efi'ort necessary on the operator's part to start the feeding. The operator then draws the handle forward and downward with an equal pressure as the inertia of the machine after the tape roll has been started is materially diminished. The roll-has been started through the combined efforts of the spring 30 and the operator. The

2 operating pressure is thus substantially uniform and the crank handle is only moved through a half turn to dispense nearly five feet of heavy tape which is dispensed with great rapidity and little effort due to the added spring tension.

After the tape passes the feed rolls 15 and 16 and as it is fed from the machine it passes the cutter 40 which consistsof the knife blade 41 shown in Figures 3 and 4 pivoted at 42 to the frame 10a, and is held in raised position by the spring 43. A link 44 is mounted on the other end of the knife blade 41 and is connected to the cross lever 45 mounted on the pivot 46. A solenoid magnet 47 is mounted. in the lower part of the front of the machine secured to the side plate 10 and the magnet is provided with the movable core or armature 48. The core 48 is se cured by the link 49 to the cross lever 45. Movement of the iron core 48 into the solenoid 47 due to the energization of the solenoid will cause a substantially instantaneous movement of the knife 41 which will thus sever the tape. When the current to the solenoid is broken the spring 43 restores the knife 41 to raised position.

As shown in Figure 1 the magnet 47 is energized from a suitable electric source 50 which operates through a normally open switch 51. The details of this switch are particularly shown in Figure 6 and it comprises a pivoted block 52 'and a fixed block 53. Both of these blocks are preferably made of insulating material and are mounted on the frame 10 inside the wheel 19. The blocks 52 and 53 are provided with electrical contacts 56 and 57 respectively and connected in circuit with the electric source 50 and the magnet 47. A fixed abutment 54 cooperates with the pivoted block 52 so that the spring 55 mounted between the two blocks will not move the pivoted block more than sufllcient to open the contacts 56 and 57 to break the electrical contact.

As the crank 18, mounted integral with the wheel 19, is brought to the end of its stroke, a projection 58 on the wheel 19 approaches the free end of the pivoted block 52 and as thecrank 18 is moved further in the tape feeding direction the movement of the block 52 will close the contacts 56 and 57. causes a sudden energization of the magnet 47, thus substantially instan'taneously deflecting the knife to sever the tape. The electric cutter is not automatically operated, however, at the end of a feeding stroke,

but necessitates conscious additional movement of the lever 18 by the operator, thereby preventing accidental operation of the cutter blade before the length of tape desired is fed out of the machine. Such a cutter requires little manual energy for its operation and quickly severs the heavy tape which would otherwise be difficult to cut.

After the tape passes the cutter 40 it is moistened by the moistening element 60, and inasmuch as the tape is heavily gummed and moves rapidly past the moistener a more eflicient moistener than previously known is desirable. A greater amount of moisture is necessary and a more uniform spreading is provided. The moistening element 60 includes a plurality of brushes'6l and 62 cooperating with a pressure member 64, as more particularly shown in Figure 4. The brushes are mounted in a suitable water container 63. These brushes may be of the same or different sizes, the

first brush 61 is slightly inclined toward the path of the tape and the second brush 62 which is substantially vertical.

A single pivoted pressure plate 64 is provided which is pivoted at 65 to the machine and is provided with adjustable weights 64a to compensate for different grades of tape if desired. The first brush 61, being closer to the pivot 65 has a greater eifective weight on its as compared with the second brush 62. This is preferable as the first brush is for applying the water on the tape while the second brush 62 smooths out the water and completes the moistening. The major water applying brush 61 is at a lesser angle to the tape than the second brush as it is preferable to cover as great an area with the major portion of the water as possible. With the water applied in this manner and smoothed by the second brush it is possible to feed the tape as much as ten times as rapidly from this machine as normally possible without causing insumcient moistening or uneven moistening. Both brushes are preferably mounted in the single container 63 in order that there be an adequate supply of water and so that there be but one filling. A spacer 63b is provided in the compartment under the brush 62 so that it will force the brush 62 upward to be in effective contact with the pressure plate 64.

The container 63 also has an inclined brush receiving socket 631: which receives the brush 61 and holds it at angle with respect to the plate 64. The container also has a central partition 63c extending substantially to the bottom of the container and acting as a water shield to keep the water quiet when the moistener is moved in or out of the frame. As will be noted in Figures 2 and 4 the moistener is removably held against forward abutments by the leaf spring 63d.

In order to force the tape through the moistening element 60, a guide formed by top plate 68 and bottom plate 68b is provided. The top plate is pivoted at 69 and extends forward substantially to the cutter 40. A counterweight 68a is mounted on the free end to retain the plate 68 in place. The tape will thus not buckle and as the pressure plate 64 is fiat the tape will pass without buckling through the tape chute 17 and the moistening device, and emerge from the forward end of the machine.

In order that the operator may conveniently observe the amountof tape that will be dispensed a visual measuring device 33 is provided. This comprises a channel 34, particularly shown in Figure 8, in which is mounted a double indicator column 35 having the central slot 36 in which the measuring tape 37 moves. The channel 34 has a central depression 34a so that the measuring tape 37 moves in a path slightly below the top surface of the indicator columns 35. A celluloid or other transparent cover 38 is also mounted in the channel 34 to prevent entry of dust, moisture, etc., into the measuring scales. As shown in Figure 2, the indicator columns 35 are adjacent the measuring tape 37 and one side of the column is provided with even numbers whereas the other column is providedwith odd numbers, preferably calibrated in inches. These numbers may preferably be arranged in groups of 10 and for convenience in operation the colors may be either alternate or of different colors for more rapid reading. The tape 37 is part black and part white, or of other contrasting colors,'and when the handle 18a is in its lower-most position, the white t'ape shows exclusively in the slot between the columns 35. As the handle 18a is' raised, however, the black portion of the'tape which corresponds to the amount of tape which will be dispensed moves forward substantially like a rising mercury column in a thermometer between the calibrated columns 35, and if the operator desires to dispense 14 inches of tape it ismerely necessary. to raise the handle until the black part of the tape reaches the fourteen inch mark. Upon the downward or reverse movement of the handle, fourteen inches of tape will then'be dispensed. As shown in Figure 6, a suitable spring 39 tends to rotate the wheel 39a which is provided to wind up the tape the thirty inch mark. The crank is heldin this end .of the tape 3'! is mounted on the stud 19a on the wheel 19 and the black part of the tape is calibrated with the scale columns 35 and the movement of the feed rolls.

\ If it is desired to repeatedly measure the same length of tape, as for example 30 inches, an adjustable stop 72 is provided which is mounted in a slot 19b in the wheel 19 as shown in Figure 6 in which figure the adjustable stop '72 is shown in full line position corresponding to the 30 inch mark. The stop '72 is provided with a suitable head 72a on the inside of the wheel, which head 72a is adapted to contact with a fixed abutment 10c mounted on the frame to limit the arc of movement of the feed wheel 19.

T In operation the crank 18 is moved to such a position so that the black tape corresponds to position until the adjustable stop '72 is moved in the track 19b until it contacts with the fixed stop 10c. The adjustable stop is then also fixed by.

screwing down the knurled nut 72b, and as the tape is dispensed it will be obvious that the crank cannot be raised beyond a point correspondingto the thirty inch mark. This stop is only used when a repeated number of a certain length strips are to be dispensed it being understood that when the universal adjustment is desired the stop is moved to the entreme end of the track 19b so that the crank may be moved to all positions up to and including the extreme length position.

The present machine, is particularly adapted to dispense long, wide, strips of heavy shipping tape, and it is particularly constructed so that the longer the strips the greater the accumulated energy in the spring 30 to overcome the greater inertia of the machine and heavier tape and reduce the amount of effort on the part of the operator. The crank is arranged in such a position so that the operator dispensing the tape will have a downward leverage, and thus the greatest mechanical advantage on the short strips, and when the long strips are dispensed and the operator has a smaller mechanical advantage in that he is pulling the crank either upward or forward, such mechanical advantage will be enhanced by the accumulated energy of the spring. The ac-' cumulation in the spring is unobjectionable as in the reverse movement no mechanical part of the machine moves except the loose gear. The ac-' cumulation increases as the handle movement is increased, but as the operator is moving the handle from him there is little apparent increase in resistance toward the back stroke of the lever 8, and as the pawls immediately p as the crank tends to move forward there is no continuous back pressure on the operator's hand. The spring may be calibrated and adjusted to any particular desired pressure, the normal pressure being just below that which would automatically dispense tape from the machine in any position. The accumulated tension in the spring at the extreme rearward movement of thecrank, as for example when the fifty-five inch length of tape is to be dispensed,. will be approximately equal, but is preferably not greater than the combined inertia of the machine and the heavy tape roll which frictionally engages the supporting plate on the bottom so that some effort on the part of the operator is necessary to start feeding the tape. The gear ratio is such that only a short single rearward and forward movement of the handle 8a is necessary-to serve a fifty-five inch length, of tape and the tape will be dispensed at a high rate of speed so that the tandem brush moistener is essential to complete uniform moistening of the tape. Such a moistener not only spreads sufficient water, but by means of the second brush the water which is supplied is uniformly spread over the surface and the surplus removed for eificient moistening. It is necessary to supply the correct amount and neither too much nor too little. The pivoted plate may be conveniently adjusted to exert the best effective pressure which is twice as much on the first brush as it is on the second brush. The first brush is the principal water supplying brush. Both brushes are conveniently mounted in a single container so that a larger supply of water may be provided and so that the angular relation of the brushes, one to the other, may be most effectively maintained. with a single moistening plate the brushes must be maintained in the desired position and as the bristles tend to wear down or bend over, the moistening plate moves about its pivot and the weight and angular relationship is maintained substantially constant.

The electromagnetic operation-of the cutter is advantageous as it does not necessitate additional effort or exertion on the part of the operator as is the case with the spring operated cutters and the .magnet works substantially instantaneously due to its central solenoid; The placement of the switch at the end of the dispensing stroke is also advantageous in that it makes it possible to dispense the tape at the precise end of the stroke and although a slightly further movement of the handle is required there is little energy necessary.

Combined with the upward movement of the .handle which is necessary to connect'the gear erator the amount of tape' which will finally be dispensed from any position of the operating handle. I

It is also possible to substitute a different column -in the visual tape indicator which column would indicate arbitrary predetermined values rather than inches. Such a column would be especially desirable where only a limited number of box sizes were used. The scale would thus read a certain box number to which the tape length would correspond and different colors could represent long I and short sizes for that box. Other arbitrary or preferred scales could also be used it being understood that machines for foreign use would be scaled for the units of measure in the country towhich the machine is sent.

The crank and wheel are adapted for universal movement and may measure any length of tape and any fraction of an inch from the shortest tc the capacity length of the machine. If, however, a definite amount of tape is desired it is possible to set the manual adjustment at the desired position and the movement of the crank and wheel will be stopped at the same position each time..

Such adjustment is readily changeable as desired. The machine thus dispenses at a high speed long lengths of heavy tape without increase of the normal operating effort due to the advantage of the tension spring, and without increase in length -of stroke.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention I am aware that modifications and changes may be made in the machine described and that certain parts may be used with othe or different machines and I therefore desire abroad interpretation of my invention within the scope and spirit of the disclosure hereof and of the claims appended hereinafter.

I claim:

1. In a gummed tape serving machine including a push .feed tape feeding device, a tape path and a tape severing device; a tape moistening device adjacent the tape severing device, said tape mois the moistening means being invariable relative to the tape path from the feeding device to the severing device.

2. In a tape moistening device for a gummed tape serving machine serving heavily coated tape including a push feed feeding device and severing device; a plurality of tape moistening brushes in tandem relation adjacent thepath of the tape discharging past the tape severing device, a brush moistening container and a single presser plate contacting with the brushes and forming a single guide for the tape past the brushes, supporting means for said presser plate and brushes for maintaining a tensioned relation between the tape and brushes so that a relatively heavy applicationof moisture is made on contact between the tape and the first brush, and aspreading application of moisture is made on contact between the tape and the second brush, said brushes normally-contacting the presser plate so that a film of water iscarried at the ends of the brushes even when no tape is present.v

3. In a gummed tape serving machine of the class described for serving heavily coated tape, including a push feed feeding device and a severing device; a moistening element including a plurality of brushes, a cooperating pressure member contacting with the ends of the brushes, and a water container in liquid communication with the brush bristles, one of said brushes being slightly inclined to the vertical, the other brush being substantially vertical, said pressure member being pivoted adjacent the first brush, and said first brush having a comparatively greater effective weight thereon with respect to the second brush, said first brush being adapted to apply the necessary water to the gum coating, said second brush smoothing said water and completing the moisten- 4. In a gummed tape serving machine including, tape feeding means for feeding the tape, tape severing means and tape moistening means beyond the severing means; a plurality of moisten-- ing brushes in tandem relation and a' single presser element jointly forming a tape receiving mouth, said presser element contacting with both of said brushes and forming a single tape path past the brushes, supporting means for said elements supporting the brushes at one side of the path of the tape movement and. the presser elee ment' at theopposite side thereof so that the mouth of the moistening means is always in alignment with the path of tape movement to receive the end of the advancing tape, said. brushes and presser element jointly forming selfadjusting means for maintaining the gummed side of the tape in engagement with the moistening surface of the brushes when the tape is present between them and for maintaining I the brushes and presser element in contact with one another to maintain a film of water at the tape engaging end of the brushes when no tape is present between them. 5. In a high speed gummed tape serving machine including a supporting frame, a manually operated tape feeding means, a spring operated auxiliary feeding means, and a tape severing means mounted on the frame; a moistening means for said tape; including a moistening liquid container mounted in said frame; a plurality of brushes mounted in said container, a single pivoted pressure plate cooperating with the tips of said brushes to force said tape into contact with said brushes, said plate being arranged to exert more pressure on one brush than on the other, and said brushes extending at different angles with respect to said tape, whereby one brush will act predominantly as a moisture carrying medium and the other brush will act as a moisture spreading medium.

v THEODORE H. KRUEGER. 

